I do apologize for the delay of this chapter. I didn't have very much time to write today, or yesterday.
I don't own Harvest Moon, or it's characters. I don't own the song "Broken" but I did write this story.
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POV: Elli Spring the 7th.
I pushed my baines out of my eyes, I was having a horrible day. I had been cleaning, and cooking all day. The pic-nic with Jack was today, I had to make sure everything was perfect. I was stirring the cookies, baking the cake, sweeping the floor, giving grandmother her morning medicine, watching Stu, and trying to clean myself all at the same time.
"I can't wait for the pic-nic, I really need to ask Jack about taking me to the Spring Goddess Festival." I said outloud, a habit which I had picked up from my grandmother whenever she cooked. I wanted to dance with Jack so badly this year...he asked me the first year he moved here, but I didn't really know him at the time...
There was a knock at the door.
"AGHH" I screamed nearly yanking my hair out, couldn't people just give me some peace. I huffed and puffed over to the door, and angrily opened it.
The new girl was at my door, Nami I beileve her name was..
"What" I asked a little meaner than I meant to.
"..." She just stared at me with those cold, dull eyes.
Suddely, Stu came out behind her legs crying, his knees were bleeding.
"Waaaah" He sobbed.
"Stu, what happened" Quickly losing all of my anger, I scooped him up in my arms and brought him over to the sink, I had to doctor him.
"I was walking in the mountains...he tripped and hurt himself, I carried him back here until he demanded to let him walk on his on." Nami said, emotionless.
"Stu, you know you're not supposed to be playing all the way out there"
"B-b-but I was
picking flowers for May." He sniffed, as I doctered his knees.
I didn't know what to be mad at, him for playing much farther away than usual, or myself for falling for his cuteness.
"...Fine, you know I can't stay mad at you." I finished doctering his knees. "Nami, Thank...oh." I turned around, Nami wasn't standing in the door anymore. "Well...she must have went back to the mountains, she seems...nice..."
"She is." Stu perked up.
"Run along and play now...and don't go farther than you're supposed to." I helped him off the counter. "I've still got to get ready for my date with Jack." I smiled, but then a strange odor hit me...something...BURNING"No" I screamed pulling the cake out of the oven.
POV: Doug
Behind the counter, as always. Behind the counter, watching the day unfold of everyone. The villagers don't know it, but just by standing behind this counter, I have heard every single bit of gossip, every rumor, and every false truth there is in this town, but I have never seen anything like the trouble Nami was causing among the villagers.
Ann started to drink more often, as often as I would let her. She can't decide who she wants, Cliff or Jack.
Karen was always coming in and drinking like usual, but now she had an added spark as she dreamed of devious ways to get Jack and Nami together.
Rick came in and drank because he missed Karen, she was never home now.
Popuri came in because she too can't decide who she wants, Jack or Kai.
Jack came in to drink because he couldn't win Nami over, sure it had only been a few days, but he expected some progress at this point.
Elli actually came in and touched some alcohol...I haven't figured out why yet.
Nami lived here, and usually came down around 11:00 to drink with Ann, who always had a bitter mood toward her.
The rest of the villagers come in here to drink, just to hear about what's all the uproar about.
Even little Stu came in to ask for a drink, his troubles with May were starting even though he was just a child, I gave him some flavored water instead, which for some strange reason, acted just like alcohol, when he proceeded to trip over everyone, and everything in the bar. I love kids.
...Needless to say, business was booming.
POV: Jack
(pic-nicing in the mountains)
(Jack and Elli have been pic-nicing for about an hour before this lovely scene takes place.)
Can't...stay...focused...Nami's wet and glistening body from a few nights ago kept coming into my mind, she told me not to peek...but I couldn't help myself, it was just a little peek.
Elli kept talking and talking. About what, I don't know...I missed Nami, she's only been here a few days and she's driving me crazy.
"So what do you say Jack" Elli asked getting a little close to me.
"Uhh" I snapped back into reality. "Yeah, sure, whatever."
Elli squealed with delight. "Thank you, Jack, you've made me the happiest girl in this whole town." She lunged forward and wrapped me in a hug.
"Wait, what did I just agree too" I said bewildered.
"You just agreed to take me to the Spring Goddess Festival, silly." Her head was resting on my chest.
"...I what"
"It's going to be so great, Jack." Elli raised up, and looked into my eyes...her face was way too close.
"Elli, I" I started to stammer.
She leaned in, and kissed me...holding herself there.
"Gah" I pushed her off, she wasn't the person I wanted to kiss at the moment.
Suddenly, someone cleared there throat from behind us.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt..." Nami whispered deathly, I could see tears welling up a little in her eyes, before she took off running back toward the village.
...Shit. What was she doing in the mountains, and why did Elli have to kiss me at that perfect moment?
"Nami, wait" I started to stand up, but Elli held me in place.
"Don't worry about her, has she never seen anyone in love before" Elli, wasn't affected at all by this.
"Elli, we have to end the pic-nic early, I uh...just remembered I left the stove on." I said jumping out of her grasp.
"But...Jack" That was two girls I had hurt today.
"Elli, the food was great, but I really have to go" I took off after Nami.
POV: Doug.
Alone time in the bar. I quickly looked around to see if anyone was watching, before I started to sing. "Woooooah, I've got a monkey in my pocket, and it's stealing alllll my change" I loved singing, I could sing for hours. I closed my eyes for a split second, letting the music soothe me.
"Doug..." A voice came from nowhere.
"Woah, Nami" I jumped probably a mile. "You scared me...heh...I was uh..."
"If Jack comes in here looking for me, I'm not here." Nami turned and ran up the stairs to her room.
"Uhh...What just happened" I stood there for a moment, the silence was deafening. "Well...might as well get back to singing" I closed my eyes, again letting the music get to me. "Nooooobody knows...the trouble I've seen." I sang in my deep voice. "Noooobody knows..."
"Doug..." A voice came from nowhere.
"Gah, Jack" I opened my eyes, and jumped a foot off the ground. "You scared me...heh. I was uh..."
"Have you seen Nami" He got right to the point.
"Umm...No."
He sighed, and walked out the door.
"Uhh...what just happened" I stood there for a moment..."Well, might as well get back to singing." I said to myself. "You stick your right leg ooout, you stick your right leg innn, you stick your right leg out, and you shake it all about"
-
After searching for Nami the rest of the day, Jack finally retired to his home around 12:30, after all he did say he would take Elli to the Spring Goddess Festival which was tommorrow, even though he didn't want to, he was a man of his word.
Nami slept soon after she caught Jack making out with Elli, but around 12:45 she needed to leave her room, she needed to go for a walk.
Karen, who was also restless needed a walk as well.
-
POV: Nami
I was fuming. "How could he just downright lie like that" I stormed angrily down the mountain path near the woodcutters house. "Intrigue him my ass! What a sack of"
"Nami..." A recognizable voice came from behind me.
"Karen, I am NOT in the mood."
"Hmm, I've never heard you talk this much." Karen grinned.
"Just leave me alone." I sighed trying to get away from her.
"What happened"
I continued to walk away...still silent.
"You know he likes you right"
I exploded. "Then, why was he making out with Elli"
"He what" Karen said wide-eyed. "Why on earth would he do that"
"Because he's a man, what other reason could their be"
"I'm sure it's just an honest mistake, Jack talks about you like you're the Spring Goddess...speaking of the spring goddess, her festival is tommorrow, you know"
This was taking my mind off of Jack. Perfect.
"I've heard The Mayor talk about it when he offered to show me around town...what's it about"
"All the girls dress up in pretty dressed, and dance with whatever guy they want to, it's to honor the Spring Goddess I think...I never really asked why we did it."
"...Sounds dull." I sighed.
"You're going tommorrow." Karen grinned at me.
"Umm...no. First off, I don't like social gatherings, and secondly I have no dress, nor would I want to dance with anyone."
"I'll give you one of my dresses, Rick's mom makes tons of them in her spare time."
"Karen, I" She grabbed my arm and started to drag me to her house.
-
"..." Karen just stared at me standing on the little pedestal in front of her mirror.
"What, it's horrible isn't it"
"...Wow, you look beautiful."
I looked into the mirror at the sad looking girl with dull eyes...The dress was beautiful, the traditional pink as Karen tells me, but the flowers were different from the other girls. Roses were ordorned all over the dress.
"You should wear this, it would look much better on you." I can't wear this, it would make people look at me.
"Oh no, I've already picked out mine, you're wearing this tommorrow, and I guarantee you will dance with Jack." Karen said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I've already told you, I don't want to even look at that liar again." I said dully.
"Yep, dancing with him tommorrow."
"Are you even listening"
"You leave that to me."
POV: Rooster
Huh, What? Food? Where? Huh? The sun? Is it time? What? Huh? THE SUN! THE SUN! IT'S BEAUTIFUL"COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOOOOOOO"
Spring the 8th. The Spring Goddess Festival.
POV: Elli.
The Mayor cleared his throat. "Is everyone ready to begin the Festival" He boomed at the top of his lungs.
"No, wait" Rick jumped to the front of the crowd. "Nami, and Karen aren't even here yet"
My hand squeezed Jack's hand hard at the mention of Nami...A huge gasp escaped the front of the crowd.
"Speak of the Devil" The Docter said.
I turned and looked toward the south entrance of town, and my jaw dropped. Karen was leading perhaps the most beautiful girl here, into the town square...Nami. I snapped my head in Jack's direction.
"You can close your jaw now, Jack." I huffed.
"Elli, I" He stuttered like he always did when he was caught in the middle of something.
"Alright, everyone, we can staaaaart" Karen yelled at the top of her lungs, running up to Rick, and wrapping her arms around him.
"Then leeet's begin" The Mayor boomed.
Just like last year, music seemed to come from nowhere, and everyone grabbed a partner except for Nami. I grabbed Jack, and started dancing with him. I would NOT lose him to that whore. Of course, though. His attention was focused on Nami.
As Jack and I spun and danced, I too looked at Nami, who was looking at me with hate in her usually dull eyes, which now had an unseen fire in them, that bitch.
POV: Nami
"This is so embarassing..." I thought to myself, sitting by The Mayor.
"It's okay, Nami. Jack had to sit alone his first festival, too." The Mayor said smiling off into space. He was a good, and honest man, though a bit spaced out.
"Can we not talk about Jack at the current moment..." I said dully.
"Oh, I do apologize. Of course...umm...how do you like the town"
"It's bearable..."
I must have hurt him, because he stopped talking then. It was for the better anyways, I was trying to set a curse on Jack, and Elli at the same time.
The preacher walked up to The Mayor. "Say Mayor, want to join me in a good ole fashioned hodown"
"Swing your partner round an round" The Mayor said with delight as he jumped up, leaving me all alone.
-
The rest of the time, I sat there alone, except for when Karen came by to see me. Everyone was having fun but me, I was bringing down the whole festival..."I should leave." and with that last remark, I walked back to my room in the Inn, while everyone else had a lovely time at the festival, and looked around in my bag...it had to be in here somewhere. "Ah-ha" I exclaimed pulling a red diary out of the bag. I placed it on the table, and started to write down all of my feelings the past few days.
POV: Jack
(11:00 at night, long after the festival is over.)
I was walking through town...This had been the worst festival ever...By the time I finally got rid of Elli, to let her dance with her little brother one time, Nami had left...I saw the hate in her eyes as she stared at me, I wish I could just explain myself to her.
I walked past the library, I could see the light on the second story was on, Maria was probably still up reading. "Why am I letting her affect me like this...I barely know her and I'm already head over heels for her...Jeez, I just wanted to dance one dance with her.
I walked the rest of the way through town, in complete silence, just thinking to myself.
As I entered the town square, I heard something wonderful.
"Cause I'm broken...When I'm looonesome...I don't feel riiight...when you're gooone awaay..."
I walked slowly into the Town Square...I could see Nami with her back towards me, looking into the moon...she was the one making the beautiful sound. She had the most beautiful singing voice...
"The worst is over now, and we can breathe again...I want to hold you high...and steeeal your pain...cause I'm broooken...when I'm ooopen...I don't feel right...am I stroong enough...cause I'm brooken...when I'm looonesome...I don't feeeeel right...when you're gooone awway."
She stopped singing, and I heard her sniff.
"Please don't stop singing..." I whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
"Gah" She jumped and turned around. "Jack, I swear to god, don't sneak up on me"
"Nami...your voice..."
"Just leave me alone, I don't want to talk to right now, Jack" She turned her back to me.
"I have no feelings for Elli, Nami...she forced herself upon me...she made me dance with her the entire time."
"Do you even know how it feels, to have everyone stare at you, while they have the time of their lives." She still had her back to me.
I crept up behind her...I shouldn't do this...I wrapped my arms around her waist, and gazed at the moon with her.
"I do...The first time I came here, no one wanted to dance with me...that's different for you though."
"How...I wanted to dance with someone too..." She said dully, she hadn't even tried to stop me from wrapping my arms around her.
"I don't mean it that way...someone wanted to dance with you...I wanted to dance with you, not Elli..."
She turned around, facing me...she was crying.
"Jack...please just dance with me...just as a friend...just as someone who cares." She wrapped her arms around my waist, and laid her head on my shoulder sobbing.
"I'll always care for you, Nami..." and with that, we danced slowly...romantically. We danced under the crescent moon.
"Thank you..." Nami whispered, humming the tune to "Broken."
That's the end of Chapter 3, I really hate that song...but it seemed to fit. Chapter 4 will be up soon...I hope everyone likes this chapter, I worked kinda hard on it. -Management.